By EMILY DUNCAN
Public Relations Director, Office of Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana’s First Lady Karen Pence, along with female statewide elected officials, announced details for the 2016 Hoosier Heroines Essay Contest for students in the fifth through ninth grades.

The annual competition was established to celebrate Women’s History Month, annually celebrated in March. For 2016, in honor of Indiana’s Bicentennial, students are asked to write about currently living or women from history who have made contributions in the following categories:

• Fifth grade — Agriculture
• Sixth grade — Suffrage
• Seventh grade — Business
• Eighth grade — Science
• Ninth grade — Education

The submitted essays are then divided by grade and judged by the female statewide elected officials:

• Fifth grade — Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann
• Fifth grade — Secretary of State Connie Lawson
• Seventh grade — Auditor Suzanne Crouch
• Eighth grade — Treasurer Kelly Mitchell
• Ninth grade — Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz

Application forms, suggested topics and further details can be found and submitted electronically here. Applications are being accepted until Feb. 22.

On March 30, a reception will be held with the First Lady and elected officials to honor the selected winner from each participating grade level at the Indiana Statehouse.